innovative design Archives

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

18 Games Like Blue Prince That Will Become Your Next Obsession

Blue Prince is a puzzle game featuring rogue-like elements and traditional first-person mechanics, set in the ever-changing Mount Holly Manor. Players aim to uncover the 46th room, facing a dynamic floorplan that offers three options each time a door is opened. The game challenges players to navigate complex corridors and solve puzzles, with many enthusiasts dedicating hundreds of hours to its mysteries. Additionally, there are 18 other games and franchises that share similar themes and mechanics in the puzzle genre.

AppWizard

June 1, 2025

This gravity-defying dungeon crawler is basically Legend of Grimrock meets Portal, and while the trailer had me dizzy, the demo made me feel like a genius

This week's Thinky Direct showcased a variety of new puzzle games, including a mystery game by a creator of Case of the Golden Idol and a time-loop adventure called "Metroidbrainia." The highlight was "He Who Watches," a dungeon puzzler that combines elements of Legend of Grimrock and Portal. Players navigate an underground labyrinth using a bow and arrow to interact with the environment instead of engaging in combat. The game features mechanics such as sticky boots for object manipulation and offers a demo version to reduce motion sickness. A trailer suggests a potential release in the autumn, although a specific date is not yet announced.

Winsage

May 14, 2025

Microsoft shares its process (and discarded ideas) for redone Windows 11 Start menu

Microsoft is testing a revamped Start menu for Windows 11, which retains familiar elements but offers reorganization and customization options. The redesign process included concepts that were ultimately discarded, such as a Windows XP-inspired sidebar, a full-screen Start experience from Windows 8, and various layouts emphasizing different functionalities. Ideas included an abundance of icons, thumbnail previews for recently opened files, a dedicated area for calendar reminders, and a "create" button suggesting generative AI capabilities. Microsoft engaged over 300 Windows 11 enthusiasts for feedback to inform the redesign, aiming to enhance user experience while maintaining familiarity.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

The Android Show I/O Edition: Everything that was announced from Android 16 to Android XR

Google is unveiling key features ahead of the Google I/O event, including Material 3 Expressive (M3), which focuses on enhancing user experience through color, shape, size, motion, and containment. M3 will introduce a vibrant UI for smartphones and wearables, featuring a new "tear away" notification system and playful animations. The Pixel Watch will have animations that follow the display's curvature, and Wear OS 6 will allow users to customize color schemes and watch faces. Google's Gemini AI will be integrated into more devices, replacing Google Assistant and enhancing interactions on Wear OS, Google TV, Android Auto, and Android XR. Gemini will provide hands-free assistance for Wear OS users and facilitate natural conversations in Android Auto. It will also improve content discovery on Google TV and offer real-time planning assistance in Extended Reality devices. To combat online scams, Google is introducing privacy tools with Android 16, including enhanced warning systems in caller and Google Messages apps, AI-driven detection of fraudulent messages, and a Key Verifier program for secure end-to-end encrypted communication. Google Play Protection will implement live threat detection for malicious app changes.

AppWizard

May 10, 2025

PC gaming remains undefeated: Nintendo now says it has the right to brick your Switch if it thinks you’re pirating games or modifying the console

Nintendo has updated its online user agreement, allowing the company to make a console "permanently unusable" if a user violates the agreement. The revised End User License Agreement (EULA) includes extensive restrictions on actions such as publishing, modifying, or distributing Nintendo Account Services, as well as using unauthorized copies. The EULA also places responsibility on legal guardians for minors and emphasizes that users do not own their games outright but merely license them. Concerns about backward compatibility and potential service discontinuation for the upcoming Switch 2 have emerged, alongside a growing preference among gamers for more control over their gaming experiences.

Winsage

April 27, 2025

Legendary Voodoo4 GPU modded into laptop, benchmarks work with Windows XP

Daniel Simionescu, known as sdz, has been working on porting the Voodoo graphics from 3dfx to mobile platforms, resulting in a design that integrates a Voodoo4 GPU into a Dell Precision M4800 laptop via a custom MXM card. YouTuber Omores tested this setup with Windows 98 and XP, facing initial compatibility issues but ultimately achieving partial functionality. The Voodoo brand was significant in the late 90s for making 3D acceleration accessible. sdz created a PCB with the Voodoo4 GPU using the VSA-100 core and 64MB of SDR memory. During testing, various VBE drivers were explored, with Windows XP showing better compatibility for running 3DMark 2001 and Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed. Games using the Glide API may require wrappers, and the community plans to compile a list of supported titles. sdz intends to keep the design open-source for collaboration.

AppWizard

April 21, 2025

Riven Crown is a new indie Souls-like game coming to PC

Intima Leaf announced their upcoming PC title, Riven Crown, a Souls-like game offering 25 to 35 hours of gameplay with various enemies and NPCs. The game features a unique combat system that combines traditional Souls-like mechanics with a combo-driven fighting style, requiring players to master intricate input sequences. Each weapon has distinct combo routes and powerful two-phase attacks. The minimum system requirements for Riven Crown include a 64-bit processor, Windows 10, Intel Core i5-7200U or AMD Ryzen 3 2200U, 12 GB RAM, GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD RX VEGA 56, DirectX 12, and 23 GB of storage. The recommended requirements are a 64-bit processor, Windows 10/11, Intel Core i7-14700 or AMD RYZEN 7 7800X3D, 16 GB RAM, GeForce RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, DirectX 12, and 23 GB of storage. An official release date has not been announced.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

TOS 6 in public preview for ARM shows we’re going to see many more NAS

Tailscale simplifies remote access to self-hosted services for home lab enthusiasts by eliminating the complexities of port forwarding and CGNAT issues. Nintendo's Switch 2 pricing strategy has faced backlash, while Sony has raised PlayStation 5 prices in Europe for both digital and disc editions. Microsoft removed the seconds display from the Windows 10 taskbar clock, prompting user dissatisfaction as part of a strategy to encourage upgrades to Windows 11. Windows 11 is set to receive a redesigned Start menu with features based on user feedback, although the implementation delay raises concerns. Google's phone app has improved spam filtering, particularly noted in regions like Portugal, despite occasional notification delays. Nvidia's upcoming RTX 5060 series shows promising thermal performance, but pricing details are still unclear. Beginners in 3D printing can benefit from using tree supports for intricate models to enhance the printing process. Discussions around effective backup strategies are crucial for data security, especially highlighted by World Backup Day. The General Purpose Media Interface (GPMI) introduced at CES 2025 may change A/V connectivity standards, particularly in China, while its adoption in Western markets is uncertain. The PocketCloud NAS features a docking station with an M.2 SSD slot, allowing for versatile data storage solutions.

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

It’s better than Slay The Spire, it was our best card game of 2020, and now the sequel has a proper release date

Monster Train 2 is set to release on May 21 and will introduce five new clans, along with innovative room and equipment cards that enhance gameplay. The original Monster Train was recognized as the best card game of 2020 by PC Gamer, although it received a mixed review from Jody Macgregor, who rated it 77% and noted both its powerful combos and frustrating randomness in deck and upgrade paths.

AppWizard

March 29, 2025

We Demand a Translucent Xbox – Unlocked 686

Hosts Miranda and Michael discuss announcements from Minecraft Live 2025, focusing on new mobs and their potential to enhance gameplay and community engagement. They also talk about the Backbone One Xbox Edition, highlighting its innovative design and potential impact on user experience. Lastly, they mention two upcoming games from Nintendo Direct that will be available on Xbox, speculating on their impact on the Xbox ecosystem.