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As a Thomas superfan, Thomas and Friends Wonders of Sodor would have blown my four-year-old mind
AppWizard
March 25, 2026

As a Thomas superfan, Thomas and Friends Wonders of Sodor would have blown my four-year-old mind

The author had a childhood fascination with Thomas the Tank Engine, influenced by their grandfather, a train enthusiast. In the late 90s, special Thomas-themed days were held at the railway where the grandfather worked, allowing children to ride in Thomas replicas. The author recalls a cherished experience of riding in the cab of a Thomas engine. The release of "Thomas and Friends: Wonders of Sodor" evokes nostalgia for the author, who, as a video game journalist, critiques the game for its clunky interface and design flaws while acknowledging its charm and alignment with the series' essence. The gameplay includes scenarios like a race involving Thomas and Gordon, with interactive elements that would appeal to young fans. However, the game has accessibility issues, such as a lack of checkpoints, which can frustrate players. The mechanics seem more suited for adult train simulation enthusiasts, raising questions about the game's intended audience.
'We are definitely not doing QTEs', said Dispatch's creative director before doing QTEs: 'We just needed it to not suck'
AppWizard
March 11, 2026

‘We are definitely not doing QTEs’, said Dispatch’s creative director before doing QTEs: ‘We just needed it to not suck’

Nick Herman and Dennis Lenart from AdHoc Studio discussed the development of the game Dispatch at GDC, focusing on its innovative gameplay mechanics. The team initially aimed to create engaging gameplay beyond traditional narrative-driven experiences, starting with light puzzle elements related to the protagonist's role. They moved away from a dispatching minigame concept and drew inspiration from the game This is the Police, leading to the creation of the Z Team, a group of ex-villains managed by players. The team considered incorporating quick time events (QTEs) but aimed to improve their execution. They established guiding principles to enhance player experience, such as avoiding jumpscares with prompts, not imposing unfair penalties for missed prompts, and limiting QTEs to two types: a timed prompt and a directional swipe. They found that players felt good about the experience if they hit 80% or more of the prompts and allowed button mashing without penalties for premature presses. To accommodate players who dislike QTEs, they made them optional. Ultimately, the team discovered that well-designed QTEs could be enjoyable, and the overall balance of Dispatch has been positively received by players.
Pokemon Pokopia features a riff on Minecraft's iconic Redstone system, and fans are already dreaming up the possibilities: "This is like super advanced"
AppWizard
March 5, 2026

Pokemon Pokopia features a riff on Minecraft’s iconic Redstone system, and fans are already dreaming up the possibilities: “This is like super advanced”

Pokopia features innovative gameplay mechanics that allow for complex building tasks similar to Minecraft's Redstone system. The game's director, Takuto Edagawa, demonstrated a mechanism that activates lights, waterfalls, and neon LEDs through a motion-sensing system. This has led to comparisons with Minecraft among fans, who note the advanced level of customization in Pokopia. Additionally, a developer tour showcased a moving minecart that activated note blocks to create melodies, further emphasizing the game's Minecraft-inspired elements. Pokopia is highly anticipated, tying for the highest-rated title in the Pokémon series on Metacritic.
Proton beam therapy comes to Minecraft to help children prepare for cancer treatment at The Christie
AppWizard
February 25, 2026

Proton beam therapy comes to Minecraft to help children prepare for cancer treatment at The Christie

Young cancer patients can now explore a virtual representation of the proton beam therapy centre at The Christie in Manchester through Minecraft, marking the first instance of a working NHS health facility recreated in the game. This initiative, developed by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Microsoft with input from clinical specialists, aims to familiarize children with the therapy environment to reduce anxiety before treatment. The virtual centre includes key areas such as reception, waiting areas, imaging rooms, and play preparation rooms, and features interactive elements like functioning MRI machines and hidden rooms. The Minecraft environment is scaled up to five times the actual centre for easier navigation. The project was primarily developed by Microsoft volunteers and has received positive feedback from young patients like 10-year-old Ramatulaye, who found it helpful in understanding the hospital layout.
This week's new PC games are a treasure trove of the scary, eerie and occult, plus a charming Star Trek game
AppWizard
February 16, 2026

This week’s new PC games are a treasure trove of the scary, eerie and occult, plus a charming Star Trek game

A diverse array of new PC game releases includes: - Book Smugglers: A point-and-click adventure set in 19th century Tsarist Lithuania focused on forbidden literature. - Stormbridge: A combination of tower defense and city-building elements. - Dobbel Dungeon: A turn-based tactics game using dice rolls in an ogre-battling setting. - Astrobotanica: An early access puzzle and survival game featuring an extraterrestrial botanist on prehistoric Earth. - Alien Morgue: A game where players conduct autopsies on extraterrestrial beings. - Under The Island: A top-down dungeon puzzler with six distinct biomes. - Ritual Party: A multiplayer experience blending humor and horror. - Placid Plastic Deck: A Quiet Quest: A card-battler with a suspicious premise. - Beyond The Doors: A surveillance simulation involving mysterious requests. - Roach Post: A roguelite puzzler using cockroaches to assemble postage stamps. - Forgotlings: An action-adventure game set in a world of sentient objects. - Blank: A platforming experience in a cavernous origami world. - Kill The Witch: An early access 2D action platformer featuring a witch with a baseball bat. - The Killing Stone: A cursed board game set in the Arctic. - Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown: A strategy management game based on the TV series. - FUR Squadron Phoenix: A space simulation game with vibrant gameplay mechanics. - PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse: A mystery horror novel about ghastly fishwomen. - Demon Tides: A platformer inspired by the N64-to-Gamecube era. - Styx: Blades Of Greed: An open-world goblin stealth game. - Love Eternal: An introspective horror platformer. - Key Fairy: A hand-drawn, pacifist bullet-hell game. - Nightsoil: A game exploring turd collection in an emotive context. - Ys X: Proud Nordics: An updated entry in the Ys series with bumpslash combat mechanics. - Horripilant: An incremental dungeon clicker with grotesque creatures.
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