humble beginnings Archives

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

Minecraft Dungeons 2 is an okay approximation of ‘Diablo for kids’ that’s sorely in need of more depth

Minecraft Dungeons 2 is an action role-playing game available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, with a release date of September 29, 2026. The game features a twelve-hour campaign where players experience consistent challenges due to level scaling, which diminishes the sense of progression. Combat is repetitive, lacking strategic depth, and exploration is limited despite claims of a more expansive world. The visual aesthetic is vibrant, but the narrative is weak and lacks engaging characters. The game includes accessibility options such as a guidance trail, customizable subtitles, and color-blind modes. The review was based on over thirteen hours of gameplay on a high-performance PC.

Tech Optimizer

September 28, 2026

Postgres Women India: Driving Diversity And Innovation In Open Source

Postgres Women India was launched in 2023 as a corporate social responsibility initiative under OpenSource DB, starting with 10 members and growing to over 2000 women across more than 70 countries. The community addresses the underrepresentation of women in open source and database conferences, aiming to empower, connect, and celebrate women in technology. Its core pillars include community building, nurturing future leaders, and advocating for education. The community organizes virtual and in-person meetups, mentorship programs, and collaborates with universities to enhance skills in database technologies. Key initiatives include a Career Connect Day, intensive upskill programs, and the Women for Data Summit. The community has recognized 18 women as ‘Postgres Women of the Month’ and highlighted emerging contributors. Partnerships with organizations like Google and YugaByteDB support its efforts, and it seeks further community involvement to establish local chapters and host events.

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

Spore devs say the evolution game’s previews were more ambitious than what they were actually making, and they ‘built a fantasy in people’s minds that was unachievable’

Spore was initially envisioned as an expansive simulation game that allowed players to evolve from a unicellular organism to a spacefaring alien, but the final product turned out to be a collection of sci-fi minigames with a cartoonish character creation engine. The game's creator, Will Wright, introduced concepts like "procedural verbs" for evolving societies, but many of these ideas were not fully realized in the final version. Features such as an aquatic stage were cut from the game, which has led to ongoing interest and documentation by fans. Despite mixed reviews, Spore has influenced contemporary games, including the roguelike Everything Is Crab.

AppWizard

May 29, 2026

The All-Time Best Pokémon Game Just Got A PC Port

Pokémon Crystal has been ported to PC by developers 'DanZC' and 'wowjinxy' under the project name 'suiCune', which took two years to complete. This port features a complete rewrite of the original code, retains save compatibility with the original game, and allows players to use WASD controls instead of the Game Boy's D-Pad. The project also incorporates native online functionality using REON, an open-source reimplementation of the Game Boy's network adapter.

Winsage

April 12, 2026

Original Windows Task Manager Was Just 80 KB, Says Microsoft Engineer

The original Windows Task Manager was 80 KB in size, while its current version is 4 MB. Dave Plummer designed it to remain operational during system freezes, emphasizing that every line of code has a cost. The Task Manager could manage multiple instances by sending private messages to existing ones and launching new instances if the original was unresponsive. It utilized global strings and direct access to the kernel’s process table for speed and efficiency. Users have noted that modern systems consume more resources for similar tasks compared to older versions like Windows 7.

AppWizard

April 7, 2026

‘There wasn’t really a game or team’ when Undead Labs made the now-5-year-old State of Decay 3 reveal trailer: ‘The game was in a Word document’

Philip Holt of Undead Labs discussed the early development of State of Decay 3, revealing that the project was initially just a concept documented in a Word file when the trailer featuring a zombified deer was created. The announcement was not planned, as the studio was still determining the game's direction, influenced by Microsoft's strategy to promote the Xbox Series X/S. After six years of silence, Undead Labs has opened sign-ups for an alpha playtest. The game will feature four-player co-op gameplay, innovative base-building mechanics, enhanced resource management strategies, and intense combat scenarios.

AppWizard

March 17, 2026

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Disco Elysium, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Final Fantasy IV and More

- Available Today: - DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 17 - South of Midnight (Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC) – March 18 - The Alters (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 18 - Disco Elysium (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 19 - Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC) – March 24 - Absolum (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 25 - Nova Roma (Game Preview) (PC) – March 26 - The Long Dark (Cloud, Console, PC) – March 30 - Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Cloud, Console, PC) – March 31 - Barbie Horse Trails (Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC) – April 2 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC) – April 2 - Final Fantasy IV (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – April 7 - In Case You Missed It: - Minishoot’ Adventures (Console, Cloud, Handheld, PC) – March 3 - Game Updates: - Valorant (PC, Console) – March 18 - Sea of Thieves: Season 19 (Console, PC) – March 19 - In-Game Benefits: - Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 (Console) – Available now - Skate. (Console, Game Pass Ultimate only) – Available now - Leaving March 31: - Peppa Pig World Adventures (Cloud, Console, PC) - Mad Streets (Cloud, Console, PC)

Winsage

December 7, 2025

Notepad on Windows 11 can now make Markdown tables — here’s how to master it

Notepad on Windows 11 has been upgraded to version 11.2510.6.0, introducing table support that enhances its Markdown capabilities. This feature allows users to create tables using Markdown syntax, providing a simple way to organize information without competing with spreadsheet applications like Excel. Users can open Notepad, ensure they have the correct version, define rows and columns using Markdown, preview the table, and save their document to preserve the table's structure.

AppWizard

December 6, 2025

The 10 best Total War games to play today ahead of Medieval 3

The Total War series has evolved over two decades from a simple wargame to a complex strategy format combining real-time tactics with a strategic world map, incorporating military, political, and economic dimensions. Total War: Napoleon (2010, PC) focuses on gunpowder campaigns and emphasizes combat tactics and army strategy. Total War: Rome (2004, PC) is considered a franchise-defining title, introducing a variety of unit types and campaign factions, and remains popular with numerous mods available. Total War: Attila (2015, PC) immerses players in a world on the brink of collapse, focusing on empire management and societal decline. Total War: Medieval 2 (2006, PC) is known for its intense battles and intricate tactics, becoming a popular modding platform. Total War: Shogun 2 (2011, PC) is praised for its refined gameplay and accessibility, set in a single nation during a specific historical period. Total War: Rome 2 (2013, PC) has developed a distinct identity despite initial criticism, offering rich strategic gameplay. Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019, PC) introduces character-driven politics and relationships, enhancing narrative engagement. Total War: Warhammer (2016, 2017, 2022, PC) provides a dark fantasy experience with a vast game map and diverse factions, solidifying its place in the franchise.

AppWizard

October 25, 2025

Europa Universalis lead Johan Andersson says Paradox’s DLC model has been ‘pretty f***ing great’: ‘You decide what’s going in, you decide the scope, you decide exactly when you can release’

Paradox Interactive is known for its 4X and grand strategy games, particularly for its downloadable content (DLC) strategy. Johan Andersson, the lead for Europa Universalis V, is confident in the DLC model, stating it has been effective. The company has grown from a small team to hundreds of employees with five internal development teams, allowing game directors more control over release timing and content scope. Early expansions faced challenges, with some, like Mare Nostrum, receiving mixed reactions. Andersson reassured players that features from Europa Universalis IV will largely carry over to Europa Universalis V. He believes EU5 will serve as a long-term platform for future content development.